Title
Special recognition of September 2025 as Safe Gun Storage month in Lake County.
Body
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
WHEREAS, safe gun storage goes beyond home security but is a matter of public safety, and responsible gun owners prioritize safe storage; and
WHEREAS, according to the 2024 Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Report, more than 17,000 firearms were reported missing, lost, or stolen by federal firearms licensees in 2024; and
WHEREAS, according to the National Institute of Justice, over 80% of K-12 school mass shooters stole guns from family members; and
WHEREAS, in 2020, firearm-related injuries have been the leading cause of death for children and teens ages 1-19; and
WHEREAS, firearms are responsible for nearly 60% of all suicides in our country and are used in 46.8% of suicides among those under the age of 18, with 80% of firearm suicides by children involving a gun owned by a family member; and
WHEREAS, 76% of unintentional shootings involving children were committed with unsecured guns from the home; and
WHEREAS, a 2015 study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association estimated that roughly 4.6 million children live in a home with loaded and unlocked firearms; and
WHEREAS, on July 28, 2025, the Safe Gun Storage Act was passed in Illinois, and it requires that all firearms be secured in a “locked container” and “the firearm is inaccessible or unusable to any person other than the owner or other lawfully authorized user”; and
WHEREAS, keeping firearms and ammunition locked, unloaded and securely stored separately, along with other policies and practices that disrupt access to firearms in times of crisis, has been associated with a lower risk of children and teens hurting themselves and others with firearms, and firearm suicides in homes with guns; and
WHEREAS, simple and inexpensive solutions such as cable locks, trigger locks, lock boxes, and gun safes are readily available online and at sporting goods stores; and
WHEREAS, safe storage saves lives when we talk about it and spread awareness.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RECOGNIZED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that September 2025 is Safe Gun Storage Month; and
BE IT FURTHER RECOGNIZED, that residents, educators, physicians, elected officials, and parents are encouraged to learn about the need for safe gun storage and the many options available to protect our children, our schools, and our community.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on September 9, 2025.